Private landlords ‘sceptical about new register’

It is natural that private landlords are going to be "sceptical"about the proposed new national landlord register in England, according to Paragon Mortgages managing director John Heron.

He claimed there are already a lot of regulations that landlords are subjected to and the government needs to ensure that the rules it sets for the private rented sector are "fair and proportionate".

The comments come after Paragon Mortgages' Trends survey revealed that more than half of private landlords questioned think any new register will deter investors from purchasing buy-to-let property.

Meanwhile, 57 per cent of those surveyed said that the new burden the register will bring could force some landlords out of the sector.

Mr Heron said: "Good landlords shouldn't be worried about a national register but the government has to make sure that it is as easy to use as possible [and] has clear guidelines."

The introduction of a landlord register was first mooted at the start of the summer by the Communities and Local Government department as it turned its attention to improving the private rented sector.